This wikiHow teaches you how to extract the Android Package File (APK) of an Android app so that you can install the app on another Android phone without having to use Google Play. This is helpful for installing old apps on new phones, installing apps scaled for small screens on larger devices, or testing compatibility with newer and/or older Android devices.

Part 1 :

Using APK Extractor

Open APK Extractor. It’s a green app with a white Android robot on it. The APK Extractor app will allow you to save an app’s APK file to your Android’s memory, at which point you can share the file.[1]

2. Locate an app whose APK you wish to extract. Usually, this will be an app that you’d like to transfer to another phone or tablet.

*Don’t extract the APK’s of paid apps, since doing so constitutes piracy.

3. Tap ⋮. It’s to the right of an app’s name. Doing so will both prompt the app to back up to your Android’s SD card and bring up a menu window.

On a Google device (e.g., Nexus or Pixel), ⋮ will be replaced by a downward-facing arrow.

4. Tap share. This option should be at the top of the menu window.

5. Tap a share option. In most cases, the APK file will be larger than is ideal for sending via email, so you’ll likely need to choose a cloud service (such as Google Drive).

For example, if you want to send the APK file to Dropbox and you have the Dropbox app installed on your Android, you’d tap Dropbox and then tap Add to upload the APK.

6. Upload the APK. Once you’ve selected a cloud service and uploaded the APK file, you’re ready to transfer the APK to another Android device.

Part 2 :

Using Solid Explorer File Manager

Open Solid Explorer File Manager. It’s a blue folder app. This app will allow you to save extracted APKs to your Android’s internal storage, from which point you can send the APKs to another device by sharing them.[2]

Tap a share option. In most cases, the APK file will be larger than is ideal for sending via email, so you’ll likely need to choose a cloud service (such as Google Drive).

For example, if you want to send the APK file to Dropbox and you have the Dropbox app installed on your Android, you’d tap Dropbox and then tap Add to upload the APK.

Upload the APK. Once you’ve selected a cloud service and uploaded the APK file, you’re ready to transfer the APK to another Android device.

Part 3 : Transferring the APK to Another Android

Open your share option on your other Android. This should be the service to which you uploaded the original Android’s APK file.

For example, if you used Dropbox on the Android from which you shared the app’s APK, you would open Dropbox on your other Android.

2. Select your APK file. This step will vary based on your specific share option, but will usually entail tapping the APK file’s name to prompt it to download.

In some cases, you may need to tap Download after tapping the APK’s name.

`3. Tap INSTALL when prompted. It’s in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

4. Tap OPEN. This option will appear in the bottom-right corner of the screen when the APK finishes installing. Tapping OPEN will open the APK’s app, signifying that the app has successfully been installed on your Android.